Match-igniting device.



J. E. NEAHR.

MATCH IGNITING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1914.

1, 144,61 1. Patented June 29, 1915.

JACOB E. NEAHR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATGH-IGNITING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed January 31, 1914. Serial N 0. 815,616.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAooB E. NEAHR, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Igniting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to match-igniting devices, especially those of the class in which a match-igniting strip is confined in a drum or casing, from which it is pulled out to wind upon the body of the drum; a fresh length being drawn out as the exposed portion of the strip is worn out.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a structure of this kind which will withstand hard usage, and not be liable to accidental opening, and one which is not easily opened by uninstructed persons. I aim to produce a simple and inexpensive structure which may be readily opened and closed, and in which the strip may be readily manipulated, and in which there will be little or no liability of accidents or misuse.

A coil of igniting strip is contained in a drum, from which it is drawn out and Wound about the body of the drum; and a clamp is provided for holding the strip against the drum. This clamp is mounted upon the cover, and, together with the latter, is preferably detachable from the drum. The cover is held on the drum by a locking device which is not readily discoverable, but which is readily manipulable by an initiated person. This locking device is in the form of a thimble, which is in the nature of a lining for the match-holder. This thimble (which might beregarded as constituting the entire match-holder) is slipped down through the cover into the drum itself, and fits within a socket provided in said drum, thereby preventing lateral displacement of the cover. Moreover, this locking thimble is connected to said socket in such a way that the thimble cannot rotate in the socket, and the thimble is also connected to the cover in such a way that the cover cannot rotate upon the thimble. Thus the parts are firmly held together without liability'of displacement, and there is little or no liability of the device being accidentally opened,as the looking thimble is held in place with sufiicient friction to prevent it from accidentally falling out if the device should be overturned.

The method of opening the drum is one which will not readily occur to a novice. It

is to remove the matches from the box, and then by inserting the finger in the box, to pull out the locking thimble. This releases the cover, which may then be taken off from the box, unclamping the igniting strip, and rendering the inside of the drum accessible. The parts may be readily re-assembled and locked without the use of any tool.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a perspective view of the match-box lining which serves as a locking thimble. Fig. 2 IS a perspective view of the improved match holder, mounted upon an ash-tray base. Fig.

3 is a perspective fragmentary view, illus-' trating the manner in which the body of the drum is cut and shaped at the points where the igniting strip is drawn out and clamped upon the drum. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view to show the interlocking of the thimble with the socket and cover. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a cover having a bottomless tubular pocket, down through which the match-holding thimble is dropped to lock the cover to the drum. Fig. 6 is a sectional bottom view of the drum and cover, the 1atter being partially removed from the former. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the parts assembled. Fig. 8 may be read in connection with Fig. 5, and is a perspective View of the drum and the ashtray base upon which it is mounted. Fig. 9 is a part-sectional plan of the drum, showing the strip clamped thereon; the cover being removed. Fig. 10 is a central sectional elevation of the device.

The base 1, which may be in the form of an ash tray, may be provided with a central pedestal 2, tapped to receive a screw 3,which secures a noise-reducing supporting disk 4, the latter fitting in a recess 5, in the bottom of the base. Upon the pedestal 2 is mounted a case or drum 6, 7, to contain acoil of matchigniting strip 8. The drum is surmounted by a cover 9, from which rises a cylindrical or tubular structure 9, occupying the position of a matchholder. The cover 9 may be movedfrom the drum for convenience in renewing this strip.

Normally the cover is locked upon the drum by means which will now be described.

Within the pocket 9, is fitted a matchcontaining thimble 10, which occupies the position of a lining for said pocket. The thimble has a bottom 11 upon which the matches rest, and extends down into the drum 7,'to fit into a cup or socket 12, which rises from the bottom G'of the drum and is fixed thereto or formed thereon. Fig. 9, 12 forms a socket into which may fit somewhat tightly the lower projecting end of the thimble 10, whereby the combined pocket 9 and cover 9 are prevented from being displaced laterally. The socket 12 is preferably slotted on opposite sides as at 18, so that the remaining portions of the socket may yield a trifle, to permit the locking thimble 10 to be forced down between them, so that said thimble may be gripped firmly by this socket device 12.

' The bottom of the thimble may be convexed, as shown, to afford room for a boss 14:, into which is threaded the upper end of a screw or threaded nipple 15, whereby the drum is secured upon the pedestal 2. This convexing of the bottom of the thimble permits the latter to be thrust down to the bottom of the socket 12, so as to conduce to a firmer interlocking therewith. The socket extends up nearly to the top of the drum, and may form a stanch base for the thimble that fits therein, so that the latter may stand up stiffly, and hence afford a strong support for the entire cover 9 with its tubular or pocket portion 9, which fits upon said thimble-siipport for a substantial distance above the top of the drum-socket 12. Hence the cover is prevented from being accidentally tipped off from the drum.

Accidental rotation of the cover 9, when in position on the drum, is preventedby a nib 16, in the cover and a nib 17 formedin the socket 12, said nibs both fitting into a groove 18 formed vertically in the lower portion of the locking thimble 10. The interlocking of the nib 17 with the groove prevents the thimble from rotating; while the interlocking of the nib 16 with the same groove prevents the cover from rotating. The locking thimble may be frictionally held in position, so that danger of shaking the same loose is avoided; and hence the entire device may be handled without liability of any part swinging loose or becoming disarranged, and without the strip-containing drum being accidentally opened. Moreover, as the device is intended for promiscuous use, the advantage is gained that the method of opening the drum is not readily discoverable, so that there is little or no liability of its being opened except by persons taught how to do so. The method of opening the drum, although not apparent to a person not familiar with the article, is very simple. It is only necessary to reach the finger into the locking thimble 10, pulling the same out of the pocket 9, whereupon the latter may be removed readily from the drum, into which a fresh igniting strip can now be placed.

. The socket 12 preferably also serves as a As seen at central support in the nature of spool or core upon which to arrange the coil of igniting strip and an 1nc1s1on or opening 1s made in the side 7 of the drum, permitting the end of the igniting strip to be pulled out. In

Fig. 9the strip is seen as fixed between a post 19 (rising from the bottom 6 of the drum) and an inwardly bent end or tongue 20 of the side 7 of the drum; this end 20 being cut away at its lower side, as at 21, Fig. "35 '3, and sprung agalnst the post 19, so as to Fig. 2, clamps the end or, tip of the strip against the end 23 of drum 7. This end or tongue is cut away at its bottom as at 2 1, so as to render it springy, and is bent outwardly a little (Fig. 6) so that the clamp 22,

when the cover 9 is locked in position, may

spring this end 23 inwardly and therefore hold the end of the strip at 25 yieldingly against said end or portion 23 of the'drum body. Stops 26, 27 are provided to prevent the yielding portions 20 and 23 from springing too far. Y

In operating the device, the user places the coil on the central support 12, and then reeves the strip between post 19 and spring tongue 20, and draws the strip entirely around the body of the drum. Y The cover 9 is then placed upon the drum, with the clamp 22 serving to hold the free end of the strip against the drum. Then the cover is rotated to the left as far as it will go, or until an inturnedfiange or keeper 28 on said clamp strikes a stop 29 projecting from the bottom of the drum. Then the locking thimble 10 is dropped into the pocket 9, and is turned until. its locking slot 18 registers with the locking nib 16 in the pocket, whereupon said thimble is dropped into the socket 12 with the nib 17 also engaging the locking slot 18. It will be understood, in placing the cover on the drum, that the clamp 22 extends around the body of the drum for a sufficient distance to form a rotative bearing whereby to guide the cover until the flange 28 is brought against stop 29; at which point locking nibs or tongues 16, 17 will register. The waste tip 30 may now be torn off, the edge 31 of the clamp 22 serving as a knife edge for this purpose.

When it is desired to withdraw afresh portion of the igniting strip from the drum, it is only necessary to insert the finger into opening 32 in the clamp 22, and advance the strip by pressure of the finger thereon; the smooth body 7 of the drum permitting the strip tobe readily slipped therealong. As

soon as suflicient of the tip 30 projects from clamp 22, the operator grasps it and pulls out from the drum a suiiicient length of fresh strip to encircle the same and then tears off the Worn-out length of the strip against the knife at 31.

It Will be seen that there is no liability of misuse of the device or injury thereto, as it Will Withstand rough handling, and the method of renewing the strip or opening the drum is not apparent to uninstructed persons.

Variations may be resorted to Within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used Without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a drum or casing to contain a match-igniting strip, the drum having an opening through Which the strip may be draWn out for Winding upon the body. of the drum, a cover for said drum, a socket Within said drum, and a match-holding device including a detachable thimble carried by said cover and fitting in said socket to lock the cover on the drum.

2. The combination of a drum or casing to contain a match-igniting strip, the drum having an opening through which the strip may be drawn out for Winding upon the body of the'drum, a cover for said drum, a socket Within said drum, a match-holding device including a detachable thimble carried by said cover and fitting in said socket to lock the cover on the drum, and means being provided for preventing rotation of the cover.

3. The combination of a drum or casing to contain a match-igniting strip, the drum having an opening through which the strip may be drawn out for Winding upon the body of the drum, a cover for said drum, a socket Within said drum, a match-holding device including a detachable thimble carried by said cover and fitting in said socket to lock the cover on the drum, said locking thimble being connected With said cover in a manner to prevent relative rotation thereof, and means being provided to prevent said thimble from rotating in said socket.

l. The combination of a drum or casing to contain a match-igniting strip, the drum having an opening through which the strip may be drawn out for Winding upon the body of the drum, a cover for said drum, a socket Within said drum, and a matchholding device including a detachable thimble carried by said cover and fitting in said socket to lock the cover on the drum, the cover being provided With a clamp to hold the igniting strip upon the body of the drum.

5. The combination of a drum, a matchigniting strip contained therein, said drum having an opening through Which the strip is drawn out, the strip being wound about the body of the drum, a cover for said drum, said cover having a clamp to hold the strip against the body of the drum, and means to lock the cover upon the drum, including a socket fixed Within the drum, and a part extending down from said cover Within the drum to engage said socket.

6. The combination of a drum, a matchigniting strip contained therein, said drum having an opening through which the strip is drawn out, the strip being Wound about the body of the drum, a cover for said drum, said cover having a clamp to hold the strip against the body of the drum, a match-holding device being provided upon said cover,

comprising a movable thimble normally extending down from the cover With the drum, and a part fixed Within the drum to engage said thimble to lock the cover.

7. In a match-igniting device, the combination With a drum or casing for containing a match-igniting strip, of a cover for said drum or casing, a thimble for holding matches, and means in said drum or casing to cooperate with said thimble to hold the cover on the drum or casing.

8. In a match-igniting device, the combination With a drum or casing for containing a match-igniting strip, of: a cover for said drum or casing, a thimble for holding matches, and means in said drum or casing to cooperate With said thimble to hold the cover on the drum or casing, said thimble being independently movable to release the cover.

9. In a match-igniting device, the combination With a drum or casing for containing a match-igniting strip, of a cover for said drum or casing, a thimble for holding matches, and means in said drum or casing to cooperate With said thimble to hold the cover on the drum or casing, said cover having a pocket or tubular portion in which said thimble fits, and the latter movable to release the cover.

10. In a match-igniting device, the combination With a drum or casing for containing a match-igniting strip, of a cover for said drum or casing, a thimble for holding matches, means in said drum or casing to cooperate with said thimble to hold the cover on the drum or casing, said cover having a pocket or tubular portion in which said thimble fits, and the latter movable to release the cover, said pocket having a nib, and said thimble having a vertical slot to engage said nib, and a nib being provided in said drum or casing to engage the slotted portion of said said thimble, to lock the cover against rotation.

11. In a match-igniting device, the combination With a drum or casing for containing a match-igniting strip, of a match-holding cover for said drum or casing, a base, a central connection rising from said base &

Within said drum, said centralconnection forming a support for a coil of ignition strip, and means for releasably securing said cover to said central connection, to hold the cover on the drum.

12. In a match-igniting device, the combination With a drum or casing for containing a match-igniting strip, of a cover for said drum or casing, a thimble for holding matches, and means in said drum or casing to cooperate With said thimble to hold the cover on the drum or casing, said cover having a part on its border to engage said drum or casing, and to aid in holding the cover thereon.

13. The combination of a drum, an igniting strip therein, a portion of said igniting strip extending out of the drum and Wound about the body thereof, a clamp for holding the strip against the drum, a cover for-said drum, said clamp mounted on said cover,

said cover movable from the drum, a matchcontaining thimble on said cover, said thimble movable relatively to the cover and extending down through the same into the drum, and a socket provided in said drum,

"to engage said thimble to hold the cover to the drum.

14. The combination of a drum, an igniting strip therein, a portion of said igniting strip extending out of the drum and Wound about the body thereof, a clamp for holding the strip against the drum, a cover for said drum, said clamp mounted on said cover, said cmer movable from the drum, a matchcontaining thimble on said cover, said thimble movable relatively to the cover and extending down through the same into the drum, a socket provided in said drum, to engage said thimble to hold the cover to the drum, and means to prevent the thimble from rotating in the socket.

15. The combination of a drum, an igniting strip therein, a portion of said igniting strip extending out of the drum and Wound about the body thereof, a clamp for holding the strip against the drum, a cover for said drum, said clamp mounted on said cover, said cover movable from the drum, a matchcontaining thimble on said cover, said thimble movable relatively to the cover and extending down through the same into the drum, a socket provided in said drum, to engage said thimble to hold the cover to the drum, means to prevent the thimble from rotating in the socket, and means to prevent the cover from rotating on the thimble.

16. The combination of a drum, an igniting strip therein, a portion of said igniting strip extending out of the drum and Wound about the body thereof, a clamp for holding the strip against the drum, a cover for said drum, said clamp mounted on said cover, said cover movable from the drum, a matchcontaining thimble on said cover, said thimble movable relatively to the cover and extending down through the same into the drum, a socket provided in said drum, to engage said thimble to hold the cover to the drum, and means at the border of said cover for holding it against being accidentally lifted from the drum.

17. The combination of a drum, an igniting strip therein, a portion of said igniting strip extending out-of the drum and wound about the body thereof, a clamp for holding the strip against the drum, a cover for said drum, said clamp mounted on said cover, said cover movable from the drum, a matchcontaining thimble on said cover, said thimble movable relatively to the cover and extending down through the same into the drum, a socket provided in said drum, to engage said thimble to hold the cover to the drum, a clamp pendant from the border of said drum to clamp the igniting strip to the drum, and means extending from said clamp to catch beneath the drum.

18. The combination of a drum, a strip Within the drum, a portion of the strip extending out from the drum and Wound about the same, a cover for said drum, said cover having a pocket or tubular portion extending up therefrom, and releasable means connecting said cover to said drum, and including a part arranged within said pocket or tubular portion whereby the releasing of the cover may be effected.

19. In a match-igniting device, the combination With a drum or casing for containing a match-igniting strip, of a cover for said drum or casing, a thimble for holding matches, and means in said drum or casing to cooperate With said thimble to hold the cover on the drum or casing, said drum having a socket Within Which said thimble fits, and said socket having the form of a cup Which is split or slotted to enable the sides of the socket to yield as the thimble is forced thereinto.

20. The combination of a drum for holding an ignition strip, a socket rising Within said drum, a detachable support fitted in said socket and rising therefrom, and a cover having a tubular pocket fitting upon said support for a substantial distance above said socket, to prevent the cover from being either displaced laterally or tipped off from said drum; said support comprisinga matchholder, andbeing liftable to release the cover from the drum. I

21. The combination of a drum for holding an ignition strip, a socket rising Within said drum, a detachable support fitted in said socket and rising therefrom, and a cover having a tubular pocket fitting upon said support for a substantial distance above said socket, to prevent the cover from being either displaced laterally or tipped off from said drum; said support comprising a matchholder, and being liftable to release the cover from the drum, and said drum having a part to catch under the bottom of said drum, for additionally securing the cover thereto.

22. The combination of a drum for holding an ignition strip, a socket rising within said drum, a detachable support fitted in said socket and rising therefrom, a cover having a tubular pocket fitting upon said support for a substantial distance above said socket, to prevent the cover from being either displaced laterally or tipped off from said drum; said support comprising a matchholder, and being liftable to release the cover from the drum, and means upon said cover for clamping the strip upon the body of the drum; said clamp being held against the strip by the cooperation of said socket, said support, and said tubular pocket.

23. The combination of a drum for holding an ignition strip, a socket rising within said drum, a detachable support fitted in said socket and rising therefrom, a cover having a tubular pocket fitting upon said support for a substantial distance above said socket, to prevent the cover from being either displaced laterally or tipped off from said drum; said support comprising a matchholder, and being liftable to release the cover from the drum, and means upon said cover for clamping the strip upon the body of the drum; said clamp being held against the strip by the cooperation of said socket, said support, and said tubular pocket, means being provided to enable said support to prevent relative rotation of the cover and drum.

24. The combination of a drum, a matchigniting strip contained therein, a portion of said strip drawn out from the drum and wound around the body thereof, a detachable cover for said drum, said cover having a clamp for said strip, and means releasably holding said cover upon the drum; said clamp being held against the strip by said holding means, so that the clamp is released simultaneously with the cover.

25. The combination of a drum, a matchigniting strip contained therein, said drum having an opening in its side through which a portion of the strip is drawn out and wound around the body of the drum, a portion of the side of the drum adjacent to said opening being bent inwardly and forming an outwardly-tensioned spring or tongue, and a post or support being provided in said drum against which the strip adjacent to said opening is pressed by said tongue.

26. The combination of a drum, a matchigniting strip contained therein, said drum having an opening in its side through which a portion of the strip is drawn out and wound around the body of the drum, a portion of the side of the drum adjacent to the opening forming a yielding tongue and being tensioned or sprung outwardly, and a clamp to clamp the end of said strip against said tongue.

27. The combination of a drum, a matchigniting strip contained therein, said drum having an opening in its side through which a portion of the strip is drawn out and wound around the body of the drum, a portion of the side of the drum adjacent to said opening being bent inwardly and forming an outwardly-tensioned spring or tongue, a post or support being provided in said drum against which the strip adjacent to said opening is pressed by said tongue, a portion of the side of the opening opposite said tongue being formed into a second yielding tongue, and a clamp to clamp the end of said strip against said second tongue.

JACOB E. NEAHR.

Witnesses:

TrrUs H. Irons, F. E. ALEXANDER.

Gopies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

